Telephone system



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A. JACKSON & W. R. COLE. TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

No. 267,790. Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

N, PEYERS. Phowmqa npher. Washington 0.0

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. A. JACKSON & W. R. COLE. TELEPHONESYSTEM. N0. 267,790. Patented NOV. 21, 1882.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OEFTCE.

WILLIAM A. JACKSON AND WILLIAM COLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,790, datedNovember 21, 1882,

Application filed April 13, 1882. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. J AoKsoN and WILLIAM R. COLE, ofDetroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented newand useful Improvements in Telephone Systems; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description in thestation. In connection with these trunklines and switch-boards is alocal-annunciator index, with a double shutter, numbered to correspondwith the regular annunciator at the operators board, near which saidlocal an nunciator is placed. in connect-ion with these localanuunciators is a test-wire with battery in circuit. This test-line isso arranged that each operatorthas connection with it, and, by means ofa three-way switch, electric signal, and test-cord, caninstantlyascertain ifiany line is in use. The object of these trunk-lines, localannunciators, and test-lines is to allow each operator to get instantcontrol of any subscribers line (if not already in use) without thepassage of checks, word of mouth, or in any other way that will createnoise or confusion.

In operating our system, when a call is made nections. When the operatorfinds that he has the line he wants he throws over the lever on histhree-way switch, and calls the required subscriber up, and when he hasanswered, he (the operator) then proceeds to connect such subscriberwith the caller on his board. The double-shutter annunciator-index hasthree sets of local connections-one for making and breaking thecommunication of the trunk-line with the test-wire, another for makingand breaking trunk-line connection with the subscribers line, all asshown in the drawings, and as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 shows a telephone room or station with two switch-boards, Nos.I and II-one on each side of the roomand with their correspondingaununciators, the one marked B being that ordinarily used, and the otherone .(marked 1) the additional one used in carrying out my invention.The switch-boards are so arranged that each ,subscribers line whichcomes in passes through the annunciator and through that part of theswitch-board which annunciator to prevent another operator from breakingin uponthe subscriber while talking. The object of the double shutter onthe local index is, the first or outside one is for working the localconnections, and the other or inside tag is for clearing out when thesubscribers are done talking. An operator, when he wishes to secure asubscribers line, drops both of these tags or shutters, which completesconnection between the said subscribers line and the trunk-line, andwhen he has called the subscriber up the inside tag is replaced by the 5operator at whose board it drops, so that the subscriber, when donetalking, can ring 011'. After he has done so, the operator then replacesboth tags or shutters into their original position, which restores thelines to their original conditions, ready for another call.

A is a subscribers line coming into the station and passing through theannunciator B and through that part of the switch-board marked (3, andfrom there through the line D to the local springs E, and through thegroundline F to the ground. G are the trunk-lines passing through thatpart of the switch-board marked H, of which there is one for eachsubscribers line, each one of which is connected for convenience to fourof the sections 0 of the switch-board, from either one of which sections0 the trunk-line is connected to one of the intervening parallel bars mby a suitable plug, and thence through the local-annunciator indeX I,and thence to the local connection Y, from there through the test-wire Kand local battery L, and then to the three-way switch M, where it isconnected with button N. The three-way switch has the button 0, which isconnected with the line B, running through the magneto-generator Q tothe ground. The button marked S is for the telephone. The lever T isconnected with the electric signal U, which may be of any ofthewell-known forms, an d this in turn is connected with the test-cordV. The local indices I have each two tags, W and X. The tag W is forworking the local connections E, J, and Y, while the tag X is forclearing out when the talkers are done. The springs Y form the localconnections, one side being connected by the line a to one side of theindex-magnets I, while the line b is connected to the subscribers line Aand with the local connection J.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the local-annunciator index I, and, inconnection with a similar view of the same at Fig. 5, shows itsconstruction; and Fig.2,adetail view of the springs. These springs arethe connections E J and Y hereinbel'ore referred to, and a showsconnection between the magnet and the trunk-line, and a the connectionbetween the magnet and the spring Y, while the opposite spring Y isconnected to the test-line. c is a rod terminating a yoke, f, and uponthis rod are secured the buttons or cones g, proper means being employedto insulate them from the rod and from each other. WV is the outside tagpivotally secured to the front of the device, and, when upright, is heldin position by the hooked arm h, which is actuated by the armature ofthe magnets. To the lower end of this tagis secured a lever-hook orcurved lever, i, which engages with the inner side of the yoke f.VVhenin this position the connections orsprings J and Y are in contactwith the cones 9, while the connections of springs J are broken. Theinside tag is marked X, and is held in its vertical position by the tagW. When the armature releases the tag \Yits fall is followed by that ofthe tag X. In falling the tag W impinges against the head of the yoke ofthe rod 0 and, forcing it backward, breaks the connections Y E and makesconnection between the cone and the springs J. After the connectionbetween the subscriberslines has been perfected through the interveningtrunk-line,

the operator replaces the tag X in its vertical position, which clearsout when the subscribers are through talking. He then, after thesubscriber has rung oft, replaces the tagW in its vertical position,engagingit with the hooked arm, when the curved lever at the bottom ofsaid tag engages with the yoke of the rod and, drawing the same forward,breaks connections with the springs J and re-establishes connection withthe springs Y E.

Fig. 3 represents the double switch-board composed of the parts marked 0H, hereinbefore referred to, with which, upon one side, the trunk-linesare connected, and upon the other theoperatingorsubscriberslines. Inthedrawings, m m represent a series of metallic bars running the wholelength of the switch-boards, and n are other metallic sectionsinterposed between the talking-harem and insulated therefrom, and tothese bars a the subscribers lines terminating at that board areconnected. 0 are similar sections, connected in series of fourconnecting-bars for one wire, with which the trun k-lines connect. p arethe plug-holes, by means of which and suitable plugs the sections n 0are connected with the barsm, each trunkline being connected to four ofthe sections 0 for convenience and to avoid delay from parts of theapparatus being in use by other subscribers. By this construction itwill readily be seen that connections can be made instantly by means ofthe plugs between the subscribers lines and the trunk-lines by placingthe plugs in the holes 19, so as to make metallic connection between thesections m and the bars a and 0.

In practice, it the operator at switch-board N6. 1 is asked by No.25 onhis board for subscriberNo.75, whois connected directlyto board No. II,he first applies his test to No. on his trunk or local-circuit wire, andif said line 75 is not in use local current will pass through the saidtrunk-line G to the local index I, No. II, then through springs Y tolocal-battery wire K, and round to button N, No. I, through switch T,signal U, and cord V, thus completing a test circuit. The aboveconnections have caused the local annunciator I, N 0. II, to drop, andtherebyreleased springsYandE and closed springs J. The operator thendrops his own local annunciator, No. I, by putting his testplug V intoconnection with No. 25 trunk-line on his .board No. I, which will cutout the ground-connection and prevent interference. He now switcheslever T to the button 0 connected with the generator, and calls upNo.75, which being done he connects No. 75 trunkline and No. 25 on hisboard in the usual manner and' applies his telephone to tell them to goahead. The operator atboard No. II puts back the inner shutter, X,leaving the outer shutter, W, down during the connection of Nos. 75 and25, and when the said subscribers ring off it (shutter X) will againdrop, which, being the signal that the trunk-line connection is nolonger needed, is notice to the operator to replace both shutters, andthereby put the lines in readiness for further calls. The circuit,during the connection of Nos. 75 and 25, is as follows: From subscribersline A, 25, to annunciator B, thence to switch-board No. I at 0, thenconnect with trunk-line wire 75, thence to annunciator I, No. II, thenceto and through springs J to line b, and thence to subscribers line 75.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. In a telephone system, a series oftrnnklines corresponding in number to the entering subscribers lines,and connected to two or more sections of every subdivision ofthe systemwithin the station, in combination with the local annnnciator andswitching device actuatedthereby, the subscribers talking-barsalternating with said trunk-line sections, and suitable plugs wherebysaid trunk-lines are connected, substantially as set forth.

2. In a telephone system, and in combination with the trunk and testlines, substantially as described, an electric annunciator-indexprovided with two tags and local connections, thefirst adapted to workthe local springs or connections, and the secondto be used for clearingout, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The annunciator having double shutters, one for switching and one forclearing out, and local connect-ions consisting of thelongitudinally-moving rod provided with suitable contact-pieces, andopposing springs adapted to make or break contact with one or more ofthe said contact-pieces as the rod is actuated by 3 5 theswitching-shutter, substantially as described. I

4. Thecombination,withaswitch-board having the line-circuits and testand local-circuit wires centering therein, of the supplemental an- 0nunciator I, having switching and clearing-out shutters, and localconnections automatically operated by the switching-shutter to connectthe desired local circuit with the line-circuits, substantially as shownand described.

5. The supplemental annunciator having switching and clearing-outshutters, and the local connections consisting of thehorizontallymovi'ng rod provided with conical contactpieces and opposingfixed contact-sprin gs, said cones being moved between said springs whenthe rod is actuated by the switching-shutter, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. The switch-board consisting of the longitudinal bars connected to thesubscribers circuits, and the double set of insulated bars permanentlyconnected to the local or switchboard circuits, alternating therewith,and provided with suitable indentations adapted to receive plugs,whereby any desired pair of the local and outside circuits can bereadily connected, substantially as described.

WILLIAM A. JACKSON. WILLIAM R. com.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. ScULLY.

